Nazi Propaganda.

Question 1

Radio.

Answer 1

• Broadcasting was brought under Nazi control and the reich audio company was created.
• They commissioned cheap radios so that everyone could buy them and this way people could now listen to the propaganda from their home.
• Ownership rose by 25% after this and by 70% by the outbreak of war in 1939.
• Radio had reached the whole of Germany meaning there was now no escape from Nazi messages.
• Germany had the highest ownership of radio percentage in the world.
• The radio was named the people’s receiver.

Question 2

Press.

Answer 2

• Socialist and communist papers were closed and the Editor’s Law of October 1933 ensured that other newspapers published in the Nazi views.
• Geobble’s introduced daily press conferences were organised in order to tell editors what to write in the Nazi view.
• Consequently, the press was tightly controlled and the level of journalism fell and with it the sales of newspapers.
• The Nazis also had their own newspaper the Volkisher Beobachter reaching 1.7 million by the 1944.
• By 1939 two thirds of the German press was controlled by Eher Verlag (Nazi publishing house).

Question 3

Berlin Olympics.

Answer 3

• Goebbles was determined to exploit the games as “propaganda gold mine”.
• The aims of the games were to: glorify the Nazi regime for millions of people around the world and to spread Nazi ideological themes without causing international upset.
• Over 42 millions Reichsmarks were spent on the sports complex and Olympic village to present a positive image of the “New Germany”.
• The Nazis promoted the games through radio, film and tv by making films and broadcasting the games in 28 different languages.
• Overall the Berlin Olympics were a major success for the Nazis who gained praise for their amazing management of the games.
• U.S correspondent William Shirer said “ the Nazis have succeeded with their propaganda as they have run the games on a lavish scale, appealing to the athletes.

Question 4

Culture.

Answer 4

• The introduction of the radio to more German households paired with an uprising in the creative media industry amplified the anti semitic and pro aryan views.
• Hitler and the Nazi party aimed to unite Germany through Nationalism and Nazi ideology.
• The Nazi party also introduced festivals, glorifying actions of Hitler and the Nazis.
• For example, Hitlers birthday was celebrated across Germany in April as well as German Culture Day in July.
• The anniversary of the Munich Putsch was also glorified and celebrated every November.
• Culture was used as a weapon to mould the opinions of the public, with the establishment of the Reich Chamber of Culture.

Question 5

Music.

Answer 5

• The use of music enhanced propaganda due to German history and Jewish composers were banned.
• This with new music were also seen as decadent (moral decline).
• More classical and more traditional military style music was made common and was used to create a (Traditional Nation).
• This was appealing to the supporters of the party due to their favour of past culture.

Question 6

Literature.

Answer 6

• Literature was required to promote Nazi values.
• Strict censorship was enforced, the Reich Chamber of Literature listed banned books.
• Raids were carried out on libraries and second hand bookshops, with any seized books burned at rallies.
• Over 2500 of Germany’s writers left their homeland during the years 1933 - 45, this shows how sadly German writers viewed the new cultural atmosphere.
• Their place was taken by a lesser literary group, who either sympathised with the regime or accepted the limitations.
• It is difficult to identify a single book, play or poem written during the Third Reich which has stood the test of time.
• Actors like the musicians tended to the content themselves with productions of the classics (Shakespeare) - in the knowledge they were politically acceptable and in the best traditions of German theatre.

Question 7

Visual Arts.

Answer 7

• Modern art was prohibited, and only paintings that promoted German heroes or the German countryside were permitted.
• All film showings were required to include the “Weekly Review”, which contained political information.
• The arts thriving under Weimar were viewed as morally bankrupt, and two exhibitions were opened in July 1937.
• One was called “Degenerate Art”, where the pieces were mocked and then destroyed, and the other called “Great German Art”, which celebrated German Romanticism and classic styles.

Question 8

Cinema.

Answer 8

• Jewish filmmakers (e.g. Fritz Lang, director, Marlene Dietrich, actor), were leaving Germany after being forced from the industry.
• Many major film studios were deeply nationalist.
• Goebbles wanted to expand the film industry.
• 96 out of 1097 feature films between 1933 - 45 were ordered by the Ministry of Propaganda.
• Films divided into 3 categories:
  1) Overt propaganda - The Eternal Jew (portrayed Jews as rats).
  2) Pure escapism - The adventures of Baron von Munchhausen.
  3) Emotive nationalism - Olympia ( about the Berlin Olympics).